Record field for UJ M2S 08

Under glorious blue skies on a perfect running day, a new record field took part in the traditional pre-Christmas Mdina-to-Spinola road race, sponsored by Urban Jungle.

All participants amassed at Mdina Gate one hour before the 8 a.m. race start to register.

Although there were a few nerves, especially among first-timers, the general mood was good because with only a slight majjestral wind, the weather was perfect for racing.

Within the first mile, a small group of four or five males had already broken away from the field, which was spread out in almost single file down Saqqaja.

Among the group, which went through one mile in 5:06, were Jonathan Balzan, recent winner of the Ta' Qali 10km race, Kevin Zammit, still the course record holder for M2S, Brian Magri, Mario Pisani and Drew Lang.

By two miles in 10:06, Balzan and Zammit were on their own with Magri, Pisani and Lang some 40 metres behind. The leading two reached the three-mile mark in 15:11 and were pulling away from Magri who had set off alone in pursuit.

Leading female Carmen Hili passed the three-mile mark in 18:35 with Nadia Portelli in second place in 19:09.

Balzan broke away from Zammit entering Sta Venera and quickly built a 20-metre gap, but Zammit clawed his way back and they went through the five-mile marker together in 25:51 with Magri some 25 seconds in arrears.

By five miles, Hili was extending her lead as first female in 31:45 with Portelli, suffering with tight hamstrings, still in second in 33:02.

By eight miles, passing the Ta' Xbiex Yacht Marina, Balzan was out in front in 41:36. Zammit was still full of running almost 40 seconds behind in 42:15. Magri was a similar distance behind Zammit, passing the marker in 42:55.

Hili was unthreatened passing eight miles in 51:32 with Portelli in 54:16. For the first time, Angela Sammut was now a visible presence in third place some 60 seconds behind Portelli.

A comfortable winner, Balzan breasted the finish-tape in 55:39. It was heartening to see Zammit confirming his return to useful form taking second place in 57:17 with ever-reliable Magri third in 58:00.

Only one other runner broke the 60-minute barrier, Pisani.

He finished in 59:08. Lang (60:02), Johann Galea (60:07) and Jason Martin (60:14) all agonisingly missed breaking the one-hour barrier by mere seconds.

Hili finished comfortably in 1:09:36 with Portelli second in 1:13:52 and Sammut coming through strongly for third in 1:15:00.

Gift vouchers, sponsored by Urban Jungle, were awarded to the first three male and female finishers along with male and female age-group awards in each category.

A total of 232 participants crossed the finish line in Spinola, easily breaking the previous record of 215 from 2006, indicating the healthy state of distance running in Malta.

The full results will be published on the Malta Marathon website early next week. Visit www.maltamarathon.com for more details.